Your guide to finding and caring for a Snowshoe in Tucson
Snowshoes fit Tucson's older central neighborhoods well, whether that's a Sam Hughes bungalow or an apartment near Fourth Avenue. They're social, medium-sized cats that are happy indoors, which suits a city where triple-digit afternoons keep most pets inside anyway. A Snowshoe will want a window perch and someone to follow from room to room. Many of the cats you'll meet here are Snowshoe-patterned domestics with the same pointed coat and white mittens.
Adopt a Snowshoe today
While we don't have enough cats near Tucson, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 0-6 mo., 764 miles
Snowshoe
M, 0-6 mo., 764 miles
Snowshoe
M, 2 y., 771 miles
Snowshoe
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 791 miles
Snowshoe
F, 4 mo., 806 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Snowshoe
M, 6 mo., 819 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Snowshoe
M, 8 y., 825 miles
Snowshoe
M, 5 y., 825 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Medium Hair
F, 5 y., 825 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Medium Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 828 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
The Snowshoe began in 1960s Philadelphia, when three Siamese kittens were born with white feet. Crosses between Siamese and bicolor American Shorthairs kept the look: a medium, athletic cat of about 7 to 12 pounds with a short, smooth coat, darker points, blue eyes and white mittens, often with an inverted V on the face. The pattern is hard to reproduce, so true Snowshoes stay rare.
Many Snowshoes are gentle and people-focused, often choosing one favorite person. They're clever and curious, and some learn tricks, open doors or play in water. Their voices are usually soft and melodic. Cats vary, though, and Snowshoe-pattern mixes can share the same sociable charm with a different temperament, so spend time with the cat before deciding.
Having a Snowshoe in Tucson
Snowshoes combine Siamese-style smarts with a mellow, people-loving nature. Their need for company, playful curiosity, easy coat care and generally sturdy health matter most when you're deciding whether one suits your home and your daily schedule.
Snowshoes tend to be sweet and companionable, often following a favorite person around the house. Many are a little shy with visitors but devoted at home, and they usually chat in a soft voice. In Tucson, where heat keeps everyone indoors for months, that closeness can be a plus. Personalities vary, especially among mixes.
Most Snowshoes are moderately active and enjoy daily play with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders. Because Tucson summers push cats indoors, plan two or three short play sessions a day, ideally in the cooler morning or evening. Cat trees and window perches give them places to climb and watch the neighborhood.
Snowshoes are generally healthy and often live into their teens. Studies suggest they may be prone to urate bladder stones, so fresh water matters in Tucson's dry climate. Dental disease and heart conditions are worth watching for. Valley fever is far rarer in cats than dogs, but a veterinarian can advise on any cough or lethargy.
A Snowshoe adapts well to apartments or houses, since it values company more than square footage. Tall cat trees and shelves make a small Tucson apartment feel bigger, and a sunny window perch is a favorite. Because many dislike long hours alone, homes where someone is around, or with a friendly companion pet, usually suit them best.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and bedding, and occasional brushing for a short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Snowshoes available.
Tucson has a county shelter and nonprofit rescues, and the cats listed here change as new arrivals come in. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Tucson area where you can find Snowshoes and other cats available for adoption.
4000 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson
5278 East 21st Street, Tucson
9430 E Stella Rd, Tucson
Tucson
Tucson
Tucson
8950 N Joplin Lane, Tucson
Tucson
Tucson
Tucson
5319 e speedway blvd, Tucson
Tucson
Yes, you can own a Snowshoe in Tucson, and the city has no breed bans or breed-specific restrictions. Pima County licenses dogs rather than cats. Because true Snowshoes are rare, many of the cats you'll see are Snowshoe-patterned domestics, so browse the listings on this page and save a search to hear about new arrivals.
Yes, a Snowshoe usually does well in a Tucson apartment, since it's a medium indoor cat that wants company more than room. Add a tall cat tree and a window perch, and plan daily play. Because many dislike long days alone, a schedule with someone home often suits them best.
Snowshoes handle Tucson summers well as indoor cats, but they shouldn't spend time outside in the heat. Keep the home cool, close blinds on sunny windows and put water in several spots. Provide a quiet hiding place for monsoon thunder, and never leave a cat in a parked car, which Arizona treats as animal cruelty.
A Snowshoe can be a great fit for Tucson if you're home fairly often and keep the cat indoors. Cooled homes, sunny window perches and mild winters suit its sociable, curious nature. It's a weaker match if you're away long hours, since many Snowshoes get bored or demanding without company.
Very little. A Snowshoe's short, smooth coat with little undercoat needs only occasional brushing, and Tucson's dry climate doesn't change that. Keep nails trimmed and plan on dental care. Since most grooming happens at home, its cost is covered in the Other line of $450 to $1,150 a year, along with litter and flea prevention.
Yes, but only in a closed carrier. Sun Tran buses and the Sun Link streetcar allow pets only in a completely enclosed carrier small enough to fit on your lap, and animals can't sit on seats. A 7-to-12-pound Snowshoe usually fits a lap-sized carrier, though a large male may be snug. Service animals are excepted.
A Snowshoe cat is a rare American breed developed in the 1960s from Siamese and bicolor American Shorthair cats. It has a short coat, Siamese-style color points, blue eyes and distinctive white paws that look like snowshoes, often with a white inverted V on the face. Many are affectionate, intelligent and soft-voiced companions.
We have 1 rescue with Snowshoes available: Pima Animal Care Center. You can see every rescue with Snowshoes available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Snowshoes near Tucson.
Plan on roughly $25 to $50 a month for food and $25 to $50 a month for insurance. Routine vet care runs about $150 to $350 a year, and other costs, such as litter, flea prevention and dental care, add $450 to $1,150 a year. Together that's roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year.
Expand your search to find Snowshoes available for adoption near Tucson.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Tucson.
